John 10 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 10:1. Thieves and robbers attempt to enter the sheepfold by climbing over the wall. The Oriental sheepfold normally consisted of four walls of stone with one door and no roof. The fold refers to Israel (vs. Jn 10:16), and the thieves and robbers refer to the Jewish leaders who are trying to lead Israel while avoiding the door (Christ).

Jn 10:2. The true leader enters by the door and is the only shepherd of the sheep.

Jn 10:3-4. The true shepherd has a unique relationship with his sheep. He calleth them by name. He leadeth them, putteth them forth, and goeth before them. The sheep respond by hearing his voice, knowing his voice, and following Him.

Jn 10:5-6. A stranger will they not follow (Gr emphatic negation; “never follow”). Their reaction to the stranger is totally opposite to that of the shepherd. They flee. They are not acquainted with the voice of strangers. They did not comprehend this story of the shepherd and the sheep.

Jn 10:7-8. Verily, verily. Christ begins His explanation with the same statement that He began His story. I am the door. Entrance into the fold is by Him and Him alone. The ones who came before were the scribes and Pharisees who attempted to enter the fold other than through the door.

Jn 10:9-10. Again, Christ emphasizes that He is the door. If any man enter in, he shall be saved (note vs. Jn 10:10, they might have life refers to salvation). Also, that person will find pasture (in vs. Jn 10:10, referring to abundant life) or the constant nourishment necessary to maintain life. The scribes and Pharisees steal, kill, and destroy. Christ gives life (salvation) and gives it abundantly.

Jn 10:11. Besides being the only door into the sheepfold, Christ is also the good shepherd. He is good because He giveth his life for (Gr hyper), in behalf of, for the benefit of the sheep (cf. Ps 23).

Jn 10:12-13. The scribes were merely hirelings (hired people) who had no true love and concern for the welfare of the sheep. In the moment of danger the hireling runs away.

Jn 10:14-16. The Pharisees are strangers, but Christ knows His sheep. The Pharisees have no love for the sheep, but Christ gives His life for them. Christ has a relationship to the sheep similar to His relationship with His Father. Christ now states that His fold will include both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:28).

Jn 10:17-18. The Lord further amplifies His statement saying that He will lay down His life in a voluntary act of sacrifice. I lay it down of myself. He had that power (right).

Jn 10:19-21. The Jews were divided in their opinion. Some thought He was mad and demon-possessed, while others were impressed by His miracle on behalf of the blind man.

Jn 10:22-24. About two months had elapsed between the previous account and these events. Does thou make us to doubt? The Greek idiom means literally “lift up our soul.” How long will you keep us in a state of suspense? Tell us plainly.

Jn 10:25-26. Christ had already told them (Jn 6:35; Jn 7:37-39; Jn 8:23-25). The problem was they had rejected what Christ had said about Himself. Christ had supplemented His claims by His works. The cause for their unbelief is rooted in the fact that they were not His sheep.

Jn 10:27-28. Note the verbs used to describe Christ’s sheep. They hear and follow their shepherd. This obedient response is totally opposite that of the Jews. Note the verbs used to describe the shepherd. He knows and gives eternal life. He promises that they shall never perish (Gr emphatic negation; “never perish”). To further emphasize their security, He adds the phrase, “into the ages” (Gr idiom meaning “forever”) or for all eternity they shall never perish. No one can take these sheep out of Christ’s hand.

Jn 10:29. Besides being in the hand of Christ, these sheep are in the hand of the Father and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Jn 10:30. I and my Father are one. God the Father and God the Son are in agreement in the matter of the believer’s eternal security. On the basis of this passage, no one should ever doubt the eternal security of his salvation. Once a person is genuinely saved, he is saved forever.

Jn 10:31. The Jews are angered that Christ would claim equality with the Father, and took stones to stone him.

Jn 10:32. Christ again makes the Jews face His works, and asks them to define which good work deserves such cruel treatment. These good works reflected His supernatural origin, and should be the basis for accepting Him as Christ and not the basis for stoning Him.

Jn 10:33-34. The Jews ignored what Christ did, and were judging Him on what He said. Christ had made Himself God. In defending His claims, Christ meets the Jews on their ground and makes His appeal to the law. Ye are gods. This refers to Psalm 82:6, and deals with Hebrew judges because they were interpreters of divine law and justice.

Jn 10:35-36. Christ states that if the Jews were willing to call these judges gods because the word of God had come to them, why did they accuse Him of blasphemy when the Father, who had sent the word to the judges, sent Him and set Him apart for a divine mission?

Jn 10:37-39. If His works do not substantiate His claim, then do not believe Him. Christ appeals to their unbelief. I do. If His works agree with His message, and if they still do not believe, Christ exhorts them to consider again His works, so that they may know, and believe. Now they try to arrest Him because of these blasphemous claims.

Jn 10:40-41. Christ retires from the public scene. However, they find Him, and the ministry of John the Baptist is remembered. Even though John did no miracle, yet all that he had said about Christ was true (Jn 1:19-36).

Jn 10:42. Many believed. (See Merrill C. Tenney, John the Gospel of Belief, pp. 163-167.)

J. Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.John 11:1-57

This chapter deals with the resurrection of Lazarus and the Jewish reaction to the miracle. It is apparent that the fame of Christ had reached national prominence, and that this was of great concern to the Jews who feared that the Romans would punish them if Christ influenced the people to follow Him.